All Blacks trainer Nic Gill.
Photo: photosport
Another leading name is leaving New Zealand Rugby, with long-time fitness guru Nic Gill taking up a post at the NFL’s Baltimore Ravens.
It continues a period of enormous change for the organisation, which is still seeking a new chief executive along with a handful of other top positions.
There is at least expected to be progress this week on the vacant All Blacks head coaching position, with TVNZ reporting final interviews in coming days, with an appointment announced as soon as Thursday.
David Kirk, the chair of NZ Rugby, speaks to media following the departure of All Blacks coach Scott Robertson
Photo: Andrew Cornaga/www.photosport.nz
RNZ understands Highlanders coach Jamie Joseph and Japan-based Dave Rennie are the remaining contenders for the role.
The new coach will come into a revamped environment and structure, with NZR last week announcing a new high performance director role will be established to oversee national team performance, including the All Blacks.
That followed the announcement that NZR general manager professional rugby, Chris Lendrum, was leaving. Lendrum will finish 20 years of service in May, much of it overseeing the top level of the professional game.
Early reports have suggested leading candidates for the director role could be former All Blacks coach Sir Steve Hansen, international coaching veteran Joe Schmidt and long-time high performance consultant Don Tricker.
Former All Blacks coach Sir Steve Hansen and international coaching veteran Joe Schmidt, pictured in 2019 at the Rugby World Cup quarter-Final in Tokyo.
Photo: INPHO 2019/Photosport Ltd 2019
NZR last week filled two key gaps, with Chris Kinraid appointed chief financial officer and Chris Brown named as the new chief commercial officer.
Gill moves on
However, another key link to the past has been lost with the departure of Gill, who first became involved with the All Blacks in a strength and conditioning role in 2004.
He led the national team’s strength and conditioning programme in 2008 and has been involved with the side for more than 240 tests.
Nic Gill (L) and Sonny Bill Williams at an All Blacks training session during the 2011 Rugby World Cup.
Photo: photosport
NZR interim CEO Steve Lancaster said Gill had been instrumental in the record of the All Blacks during a successful era which spanned two World Cup triumphs.
“Nic has given so much to this team and the athletes he has worked with over the years,” Lancaster said.
“His commitment to learning and innovation have ensured he has remained at the forefront of athlete performance and contributed significantly to the All Blacks’ success over the last two decades.”